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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The HP Pavilion 15, while it is more expensive, offers greater storage and memory which can lead to better performance when handling more demanding tasks or multitasking. Choosing the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 would save you money and its lighter weight could be more suitable for carrying around. Both have similar screen sizes, processors, and graphics capabilities, making them adequate for general use, though their performance for engineering tasks or gaming may be limited. Neither is ideal for intensive 3D work or machine learning due to their moderate graphics hardware. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
- Good for general use
- Good for content creation
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the HP Pavilion 15.
Key differences
General Use
7.0
6.2
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Pavilion 15 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
The HP Pavilion 15 offers double the RAM and storage compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15", which enhances multitasking and data access, and it comes with a larger battery, potentially offering longer use between charges. However, the IdeaPad includes a touchscreen, a feature the Pavilion 15 lacks, which some users may find more intuitive for interaction, while both share a similar core processor, weight, and screen quality, making them relatively equal in tasks like web browsing, basic productivity, and media playback.
Content Creation
7.1
6.3
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The HP Pavilion 15 is good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Screen Quality
5.3
5.2
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The HP Pavilion 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize a vivid display for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, both the HP Pavilion 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 may fall short due to lower resolution and dimmer screens, affecting the sharpness and richness of visuals. For engineering and design, accurate colors are crucial, and these laptops may disappoint professionals as they don't cover the wider color gamuts that ensure precision in color-sensitive work. Similarly, for gaming and 3D applications, the excitement may be dampened by the lower refresh rates of these models, which can result in less fluid motion, coupled with just moderate resolution and panel quality affecting overall visual fidelity.
Battery
3.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has 5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$500
$360
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The HP Pavilion 15 has a price of $500 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" costs $360.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
5.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The HP Pavilion 15 is fair for gaming and 3D applications because it has a higher screen refresh rate which contributes to smoother gameplay, and comes with a better quality GPU which handles gaming and 3D tasks more effectively compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15", which has a lesser quality GPU and is deemed poor for gaming and 3D activities. Additionally, the Pavilion 15's screen has slightly better color coverage, which can enhance visuals for games and 3D content, whereas the IdeaPad 3's lower color coverage might not render visuals as vibrantly.
Engineering and Design
6.2
5.8
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be only fair for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Software Development
6.6
6.3
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" are both only fair for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Pavilion 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and HP Pavilion 15 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the HP Pavilion 15 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Pavilion 15 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $360 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2020 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.1" | 14.26" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.53" | 9.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1115G4 | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 35 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HP Pavilion 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Alex Cox | August 2022
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | February 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an enduring office notebook with a powerful Ryzen APU. Lenovo's office all-rounder easily handles office and internet applications as well as modest games - the Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The emission values are okay, but the noise emissions should be lower under medium to full load. The relatively light notebook (approx. 1.6 kg) achieves practical battery runtimes of about 10 to 11 hours."
Get a great deal on the HP Pavilion 15 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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